Apparatus and process for burning ceramics and the like



J ne4 1 1927. u H. KoPPERs vAIP}\.R1\"[US AND PROCESS FOR BURNING CERAMICS' AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 5l. 1921 Patented June 7, 1927.1

lHEILTRICH Koreaans, or" vEssnjia--iar'rjara' einimmaneY ssGNort v"rogTHE Korrnns'nnl v nLoPMENT ooRroRATIon, or PnNNsYLvnNvIA.r

or PITTSBURGH, frjnNNsYLlvanA, ,a oonrona'rron A APPARATUSANDfrnoonsshroRinuanrnefenaaivrrcs'AND' THLIKEQ c Application mea August a1, 1921, serial No. 14a/,367,famlf'pin"r emnariyl Aiiga'siiz-i, y191e'. i y

(GRANTED Unnnnfrnn PRovIsIoNs'Io-r THE ,Aer or Manonfaiai, 41 straat.; 1313.5 f f Thisv invention relates to annular ovens forf burningv ceramic goods, lime, dolomite andfthelilef. l c, `The guiding idea ofthe vannular-,oven is 'Y 5 based on the fact that` in the :individual i compartments assembled inl annular'operaftion the air necessary fori combustion passes Y over 'the material already ;burnt,thus cools the same and is itselt1 preheated, in order to burn upjwith the solid. ory gaseous .fuelinftroduced .into `the respective combustion chambers; vthegases .thus burnt passfrom 1 the combustion chamber ,overthestill fresh y or green, material to yieldito theklatter 15"/ their surplus heat and( thusV gradually heat thesame.y yThe carrying 'outotthisz4 principle, however, is opposed by Ypractical dif- `tlculties inasmuch as, vin .the absence-of any Y compulsory guidancefinside ofthe annular 2ov oven, the air and Wastegases do nottake the paths which Would correspond with the fulfillment of .this taslg'but AWhirlpool fo`r mations, due to their buoyancy, takefplace which, on the onehand, result iii-making the preheating and coolingzones or times unduly long and, on the other hand, strongly jeopardize the coolngfand prehe'ating e'ect. Due to their :buoyancyfthe gases O roll along von thegceiling, WhileV-romzbelowf by coolthe latter.V Particularly` arey the I '.jloiver strata of the burning-oven orrkiln r Vheated toa .lesser extent-thanthe upper-l o11es,fandY the burning process takes place A under serious heat losses. "'I-hef` extension or prolongation of the coolingrgfA `zone-icausesthe oven to become extraordinarily-large for? a fr relatively small capacity without Vthere being; Y obtained, in spite of fthisactya cooling@ eiect. VThe necessity still prevails of open.

arrives therev at "a, `reduced temperature?! j iccordingto the invention',,the-guiding: "0" ideabt the annular oven'pperation lis/to be Y v`-- rendered.capableotbeing lcarried outlf'in a f j 'practical "mannerl by ygivi-nglto the f air 'or the Y the colder gases ilovv in thev opposite 4direc-` Vtion andinix With'the hotter ones andfthere'-V Insaid' drawing-#j f' gases-such compulsory.pathsasenable them y n to: fullyv accomplish Vthe vseveral tasksgj assigned .to them at any timef For that pur,- vposel the zannular Y oven .is divided into indilvidual.V chambers yZbyv meansjofpartitions,-

and-deinite paths are prescribed tofvlllecool-` :gingv air'as Well ,as to theburning 'gasesiI and the y Waste heat; According to the ,rules'of tiri-ng technology, vthe coolingair,yvhiohis[Q 'Y become preheated by thehotdmaterial*,already .burnt, is introduced",intjo the` oven at. the

rule thathot gases which areV themselves to COO'OWH, and heat .things,mustgalvvays ,flow Afrom vtop to bottom. f f The Waste' heat from the burning ,chamberl 1 proper -isi then transferred; .directly )into f the neighboring chamber inv Whichthe'freshmateriafl lto be preheated is placed, vfand also ascends here in: the ,combustion shaft again .tol drop' down,-l

,165 L of the burning chamber thehighly preheat- Y yed air is led, at the bottom ,of thev chamber, to theigas ,supplied here through aV special Achannel,in orde-rf-toburn upWardlyYQ-in,the f combustion chamber kept free ,byvfth'eniodel c ofv stacking the material to be burnt., The

isn",

iwardfoverithe material ,fromtopntobottoni g ,Y

According toy theistage fat; which, the indi viduaL chambers tinvd V themselves in the.. l ana; nular,fiop`eraton',`ftheA diii'erent :closuresgffor permitting air and gas tofflowgtozthe ditl'erv ent: chambers closed.

clearly understood there. Y are shown inythe accompanying dravvinggrneans .'or carrying In ord'erf toA make f the; invention?? more;

are 'thenreither'v l opened-1 or i the same intov practical effect, `vvi`thout .liiniting the'` ir 1v.ention to, thefideta'ils,` whichy are l' 'illustrative and canv fbef varied 'withoutz-jcle-y parting from the invention. L

i 0'Figurel is a diagraminatical,longitudni embodying! the., invention. 1 f

al i Y i'ertical seetionfotfanoven-'illustrating-and j @Figi-j 2jis a vertical cross sectionxonSf-line i i 13j Referring' "tofthevdravvings, .10' is the chan.1 A

nel lot` thfe 'annular oven' properrandiis'subf f' divided, by partitions 11, into individual Chambers which, according to the operation of thel annular oven, alternatelyact as cooling,` burningand preheating"chambers. In the chambers 'a acting for. the time'being for cooling, the outside air is introduced l through openings 12esp-eciallypexposed for this purpose,-at the bottom of thechainber and, while being` preheated bythe freshly burnt material, flows upward through the latter in uniform distribution. A channel 13 provided at each partition 11 and capablefof being opened or closed byV a slide 14, en-

ables the highlyheated -air which comes out of the series of cooling chambers connected with each other',-to pass into the chamber ,b

Vthen functioning as a burningchamber, and

to go-to the bottom otv the same where it A'burns'up with the sgas introduced at this place through the channel 15; In the comibustion chamber 177, whichis kept 'tree by thema-nner ot 'stacking .therein the material to belburnt 16, which is placed in the. kiln i through -doorways in the sides or top ot the t chambers or in any other suitable manner, theflaine develops .whichthenleaps beyond the material'to enter the neXtchamb-er c through the channel 18 under the partition 11. The slide 14 on `the channell v13 is closed as well as in all following chambers.Y

'Y l-In order to preventithe direct-passage oi' the-,gases from the cooling chambers,` into the burning chamber', the channel'18 by vmeans of' perforations 19 in the partition Y 'i hand end of Fig, 1), so' that in this manner 11,'vis filledl with. sand (illustratedfat right a simpleclosing device or seal which can be depended upon at'the'high' vtemperatures is created. y l t bers are freshly charged, iscleaned 'out and This sand, lwhenever the chamthe passage 18 thus opened, while'rthe trani Y ward throiiglithe chamber 41-7 an .fis dis- "tributediabove the :material throughout thel ,Y same to be drawnV downward again and the chimney, as seen at the right ,hand Vof Y Q'Fig. r1. j K- vInheating such r 'inally-pass from the last preheating chamber through closure 20 whichis openhere, into kung with, gas; is is wen known, one part: ofthe air required Ior the complete oxidation V of the fuel, 'about-onehalf, reaches the roven as',loWpressur-egair in `the `"gas, soithat;VK the quantity/added as becomes `too large. Nowy in order to 'avoid cooling air, as compared Withlthe operation l i v'60 of-such an ovenl by stoking'with solid'ffuel the detrimental effect this would. have on uniform ..coinbustio-n, vit isadvisable at theV transitionpoint fromV cooling vto burning chamber, to ldraw off to the outside from the former chamber a through openings 21 a suitable part of the air. So that the sensible heat of thisr quantity ot air, however, i'nay again be properly utilized for the burning operationfthis quantity ot air `iiowsY through la heat interchaiiging ldevice 22 in the shape oi aA oneor two-chamber heater by whiclithe gassupplied from conduit 23,' for instance speciallycooled,previously with a View to perfect cleaning, canbe preheated; In this way, thev detrimentaly effect ot' surplus air on a practically perfect combustion is avoided but at th-e same timethelieat absorbed by the air and taken away from the material is led back into the combiistionprocess to serve a usetulfpurpose.

` l'nburninglimeand thelilre the mass iemaining .after the burning only amounts to s, little more than one-halhsinc-eall. weight parts ot' C02 escape from 100 parts -otV 021003. It. the 4firing is effected hereby a special gas producer Iplant,.the burnt inaterial just suitices toV preli'eat the 'low pressure air.` 44 weight parts of carbon-ic acid escape in addition' to the waste heat gases.

and prelieating chambers andutilized on its' part .for preheating the material to be yburnt,

From the burning chamber :the Y n y Here tliet ,heat ysurplus available over andbeyond the This casefundamentally corresponds to the 'i above-mentioned example; only here the heat item available is. taken away atanother place. l A f 'With the arrangement described, the fun damental idea of the annular ,operation is v"tlieretore carried out'fin the most Vperi'ect c ."mafnner, by affording'th-e best conditions tor -each individual stageof the cooling,lburn `fing and heating, fwit-hout there being any ipossibi'litycf a disturbing reaction from one *i stage to i another taking place, 'in a. control of the operation as a whole which insuresy a much better utilization ofr the 'fuel necessary 'for burning, on 'the one hand 'and of the burning Space available inkk the .annularfoven on the other hand. v`Gl'he special Y formgiven :to the arrangement iii this connectionrproves particularly. suitable, above everythingelse the closing of the ,seals located; atntlie hottestplace by means, of the introduction ot sand, although., ot' course, the usevof valves to `be op-eratediin the annular 'oven `from above is not prefl eluded. `1*`orburnin,glime,yi dolomite, etc.,

This t results f i iio thevoven would receivfefa removable ceiling, `sothatthev limestone can vbe poured in from Y above and the burntlime also bew'ithdrawn `from aboverby-ineans vof' a hoist. wWhats-is claimed is-. Y

.1. An annular oven for burning Vceramic ware and the like, in combination: a series c Y lof connected ovenl chambers `adapted tov beiV operated successively as cooling', burning-and noni,

portion of said partitions providing a coin-V vinunication vtrom the upperl part or one chamber to the Vlower part of the next adjaycentchamber and the other set of passage openings located in the lower portion of the partitions and communicating 'with the lower partofthe vsaid-nent adjacent chain" ber, each of saidV passage openings adapted lto bev opened and closed; openings'in the lower portions "of said-'chambers for admission of cooling air; heat supplyopenings Alocated in the lower part of the chambers adjacent said partitions; the passages in the upper part of said partition adapte'd'to be opened vand the passages in the lowerpart of said partitions adapted to be closed be@ VtweenA the cooling and burning chambers; the upper passages adapted to be closed and Y the lowerpa'ssages adapted to bevopene'd between the burning and preheating chambers l Y y haring separating andcommunicating chamand between each preheating chamber.

2. An annular oven for burning ceramic .ware and the like, in combination: a series of connected oven chambers adapted to be oper- Yated Vsuccessively as cooling, burning and preheating chambers; kpartitions separating said`chambers;a plurality of passage openings in said partitions, one set in the lupper portion of said partitions providinga coininunication from the upper part of 'one enableclosingot said passage openings, and

thelower portion of the partitions and corn` Athe xtop 'of the o ven tothe lower passage'` openings adapted'to be lilled with sand to4 'chamber to the lower parto the Vnext adj'a` 'i cent chamber, by-p'assesV leading from the top oit the oven to said passageopeningsto' theother'set of passage openings located in municating with the lower part ofthe next adjacentchamber, bypasses leading from4 close said lower'passage openings; openings in the llower portions of 'said'charnbers 'for l admission of air for cooling; heat'supply openings locatedin the lower part ofthe chainbersladjacent said partitions; the pas-*f `saves in the u erV art ofsaidf artitions e PP P P adapted to be opened and the passages inthe lowerl part'of said partitions adapted to be closed between the cooling rand burningl chambers; the upper passages adapted tobe closed and the. lower passages .openedgbe-i tween the :burning and preheating cham-` bersand between eachpreheating chamber.

'JLS A process oroperating annular Vovensbers consisting in constitutingvand operating fsaid vchambers successivelyas al cooling chamber, burning'chamberand preheating vchain- ,berg drawing cooling air in through 4the lower portions ofl the cooling chamber ;',w'ithi drawing to the outside ofthe oven aV portion yoi? the preheated vair rom'suchf cooling chamber and'rdrawing-the remainder Aof such preheated Vvcooling air'oi fromV the upper por- Vtions of said ycooling chambers; and'admitting'such remaining preheated air into the lower: portion of the burning chambers to support `combustion .in the lower portion y they flow directly upwardly, ythen" dowii-VV 'i ucts otcombustion through theremainder f of said preheating chambers' in the` same manner asthey iiow` from the burning cham-l l ber; through the lirst preheatingchamber and'` withdrawing'the products oficoi'nbus-"v tion from thev last preheating chamber;

4, A process of operatingannular 'ovens bers consisting in constituting and-operatinglsaid chambers successively asI a cooling'v chamber, burning chamber-f and preheating chamber; drawing cooling air `in through theV lower'portionsl of the c'oolingrohainber; y withdrawing tothe outside of the oven ar portion of the preheated air from such cool- ,ing chamber .before the remainder of such preheated air reaches thefburning chamber and-passing such withdrawn portion through aheatl recoyeryplant to impart heat to *pre-l heat gas for the burning chamber; 'drawing thereniainder of such preheated cooling air off l'trom Athe .upper portion of` the coolingchamber and admitting it into the lower portion of the burning I chamber to support combustion therein in the lower portion lthereofsothatthe flame and the products' of y combustion will flow directlyupwardly and then flow downwardly; withdrawing'such cooling'air commingled-'withthe products of' combustion off through the lower kportion of the burning .chamber A'and adinittingthein into the lower portion of' tlielprelieating.

chamber. so that ltheyilow'h rstupw ardly an'df` l l lthen downwardly; passing suchfproductsot; combustionV through the v'remainder jot'sa'i'd preheating chambers -infthel same manner as they flow `from theburning chamber. through. the ii'rst /pieheatin'g chamber andwithdrawg productsgof combustion from the last I priheating chamber.'

5. A'method .for Vop eratingannular oyens l ing chamber, withsnitabl'e admissionpfair haring separated and' 'conimunicating ch'arn'- *bers* consisting vin communicably lconnecting a plural-ity lof chambers in Aseries and con-'i4 `stitutingv and operlat-ing'veachf-ot the chaini bers in'th'e series vsuccessivelyascooling. chamber, 'zi-*burning 'ch'ainber `and apre-heatand preheated l combustionfjgas, and 'with-fdo wardly therein and theninto the lower parten' o't the nextprelieating chamber, such prod- `drawing surpluslieated air from the coolving chamber, and preheating the saidv com- Y, bustion `gas forv the 'burning' chamber by means of said Withdrawn surplus air.

. 6. An lannular oven or kiln foi' burning lf :cramic ware and other substances, having,

in combination, a series of connected oven chambers, and partitions separating said chambers; each ovenchamber having acombustion gas supply opening, a fresh air sup ply opening into the. bottom part of .the

f chamber, adischarge opening from the top Y communicationfrom'the bottom part of each i part of the chamber, a discharge opening to a'draft device from the bottom part of the chambery a-v cominunication from the top part of the chamber to the bottom part of the nextA chamber, *and a vcommunication :trom

the bottom part of each chamber to the bot- `tm part of the next chamber ;means in each chamber for extending. said communications from said bottom parts ,to the top of the 'chamber and separate means controllable .from the outside for opening and closing all of said openings and communications;

whereby each oven chamber can be made successively'and Vfor a time a cooling chamber,

a burning chamber and a preheating chamber.

the bottom part of the chamber, a communi-v f i, cation from the top vpart' of the chamber to tlie bottom part of the nextrcliamber, and a chamber to the bottom part of t-he nextchamber;fmeans in each chamber for extending u said communications from said bottom parts Y tothe top of tlielchambcrand separatevmeans controllable from the` outside for Vopening andl closing all of saidlopenings and comi preheating chamber.

f8. An i lannular oven vYmuni'ca'tions, 4whereby each oven chamber can be made successively and tor av time a (cooling, chamber, a burningchan'iber and a VVceramic wareandvother substances, having,

-in combination, l-a series ofconnected Aoven chambers,vv and partitions separating said* chambers; each oyen chamberhaving a combustion gas supply opening, afresh air sup-A .l

VVfp'ly 'opening into ythe bottomA vpart yofthe i v chamber, adcommunication :from the Vtop part. r ofthe chamber to thebottom part of the-next rchamber, and a communication from the {'65bbott-om partV of each. chamber-to the bottom chamber, a discharge openinggfrom the top part ofthe chamber, ,avdischargeropening to aidraftj device from the bottom part yof the of 'whereby each oven chamber can be made suc-.-

or kiln for burning part of the vnext chamber; meansin each chamber for extending said communications ,from said bottom parts to vthe top of the chamber and separate.r means vci'jiitrollable trom the outside for 'opening and closing` all said openings and i communications;

cessively and for a time a coolingvchainber, a burning chamber andy a preheating chainber; and means for ypreheating thecombustiongas by the heated air discharged Vfrom rthe oven chambers.

-9. Q-n 'annular oven or kiln forburning ceramicv-rare and other substances, having,

in'combination, a series ofV vconnected 'oven chambers, and partitions separating said' chambers; each oven chamber having a come biistioii gas supply `opening,-a fresh air sup- Y' plyl opening intoA thejbottoin part of the chamber, a discharge opening from the top part of the chamber, a dischargev opening to a draft device from V:the bottom part 'of the chamber, a communication from the top partv of the chamber to the bottom part ofthe' next ch amber, and a communication from the bottom part of'eac-h chamber to the boteach chamber fonextending said communications fi'om -said bottom parts to thetop otfthe chamber and separate means controllable from the. `outside for opening and closing all of said openings and co-mmunications; whereby each oven chamber can be made` successivelyy and for a time a cooling chamber, a burning chamber and apreheating chamber; and means for preheating Athe combustion gasfby the heated air discharged from the oven chambers; each of said oven chambers being further subdivided into a plurality of oven chambers.

" l0. A process for operating annular ovens Atom part of the next chamber; means in Y having separated andV communicating cham-1 bers consistingin connecting a--plurality ofr4 .chambers in series and constituting and oper# 'ating said chambers of the series successively vas a cooling chamber, burning chamber and preheatingchamber; drawing coolingrair in Y through the lower: portions of the cooling Y chamber; kdrawing such preheated vcooling air off from the upperportion of the coolving'chamber-and admitting it'into the burn- Y ing chamber tosupport combustion thereinI so that theY flame and products of ,combus-y tionwill tiow upwardly and then downwardly therethrough; iwithdrawing the products ias of'combustion off through thelowver portion p vof Ythe burning chambery Aand flowing'them into Ythe lower portion ofy theY preheating chambei'- so' that' they flow upWardly'l-and y then downwardly theretl'irough; passing'such products lof l combustion .through the re'- .mainder ofsaid preheatfing' chambers in 'the same manner as lthey 'flow from the burning i Y chamber through the first preheating cham- "ber, ywithdrawing a portionpof the heatk sur,

' plus at a high temperature stage from beand upwardly through the previously burnt tween the burning and preheating'ohainbers material therein, withdrawing preheated and subjecting such withdrawn .heat to heat cooling air from the upper'portions of `said recovery and withdrawing the remainder of cooling chamber and passing Such air from ypreheating chamber.` into the lower portion Yof a next 'adjacent 1l. A method of operating annular ovens,l burning chamber to support vcombustion?v having separated and communicating eliarnthere. A i i bers consisting in passing 'cooling air into 1 the lowefroftions 0f thefcooling chambery n Y L HEiNRIoHKoPPERSi D such products of combustion from thelast the upper portion of the cooling `chamber l5 l 

